Earthquake Relief

These photos are of the land that we bought with the money donated by Marietta’s group after the earthquake. The government isn’t opening schools until October . Meanwhile in Matènwa, instead of waiting for school to officially open, this is what we are doing with the children. Over the past 3 weeks they have been working with the students to begin to make soil conservation walls, carry donkey poop, put in posts for fencing in the land to make a large garden this year.

Abner remarked, “All the students were working. I gave them explanations and training on what they were going to do. They carried rocks, they arranged conservation walls, and they have already gathered lots of natural fertilizer as you can see.”

Amber in PAP 8:06 am All of the problems that exist in catastrophes, we are expereincing now. How to dispose of the bodies, the human waste, how to move people out of the city. Everyone here is fearing rain because they think that the first rain will move the earth under the standing houses causing those buildings to fall as well. Each day more things fall. Here at Matthew 25, we have been doing amputations, and other painful surgeries, with no painkillers, no anesthesia, nothing to work with. There are no tools for our doctors. We have numerous Haitian doctors and nurses here but no supplies! We have run out of antibiotics twice but then found them by searching at nearby clinics run by missions and NGOs. I have seen Belgian doctors and Cuban doctors all doing amazing work – but we have not seen or received any contact or assistance from higher agencies ourselves. (more…)

Owen 7:48 am: The biggest issue for Matenwa and Lagonave will be one of finding food and other resources. People here are already hungry. It is very difficult to find cooking oil and other necessities, as the merchants who travel back and forth from the mainland have stopped. All places removed from the city are sure to experience these difficulties, but Lagonave, a 2 hour long boat ride away will be especially bad. The already poor infastructure leading to the Island was shattered, and people are afraid to leave. Enel Angervil, Millienne’s husband, arrived from Port-au-Prince, he reported walking over dead bodies and walking most of the hour and a half long car ride to the Carries warf, only finding the sailboat running to Lagonave. The reality has not really set in. Looking across to the mainland, one would never know what had happened. As I write, there are still slight tremors. In the library of the school, as soon as they happen, everyone picks up and runs towards the door. On Lagonave we will wait and see. It is still early, but already the lack of food and supplies can be felt. The price of rice has already gone up 20% in the area. It will be very difficult here. The shortage of food, is sure to effect everyone here and with no connection to the mainland it is unclear when or how it will be resolved.